And the BEST country to live in is.....

[Cloud9Gal]

Norway was ranked #1, followed by Australia, Iceland and Canada. :applause:

Read on...

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20091005/ts_afp/undevelopmentpoverty_20091005115324

[Toastmaker]

Rather subjective and highly dependant on personal preferences. A tropical kind of guy like me (more Iguana than human) could no more live in NORWAY than I could live in some research station in the Arctic.


:USA-flag:

[Wing_Z]

'Sfunny - all the lists we have seen in the last few years in New Zealand rank NZ as one of the best places to live!

Now we have an ex-PM heading up the UN Development Programme, and suddenly we're down to #20!
Is it because she's left the country???

[Snuffy]

Toasty, I think she's trying to brag about the fact that Kanuckada beat out the U.S. ... :bump:

I could be wrong though. I often am ..

:mixedsmi:

[Cloud9Gal]

Toasty, I think she's trying to brag about the fact that Kanuckada beat out the U.S. ... :bump:

I could be wrong though. I often am ..

:mixedsmi:


I'm not saying a word..... http://www.thesmilies.com/smilies/surprised/misspeak.gif (http://www.thesmilies.com)

:canada: :applause:

[Toastmaker]

Oh, I like Canada. . . well, you know, the hot part. . .

:kilroy:

[Snuffy]

The only hot part of Canada that I can think of would be some of the women ... :ernae:

Actually, having lived only a stones throw from Canada, I have to admit it really is a beautiful country ... not just because of the reason I stated above. Canada is very majesstic ...

Just wish I would have heard back on my effort I made about a week ago ... hopefully I'm still in the running. :)

[Cloud9Gal]

The only hot part of Canada that I can think of would be some of the women ... :ernae:



I agree! Yep, I agree with you Snuffy! I totally agree 100%! Yep! Yep! http://www.thesmilies.com/smilies/happy/yes.gif (http://www.thesmilies.com)

Well said my friend! :bump:

*she whistles the Canadian National Anthem* http://www.thesmilies.com/smilies/happy/whistling.gif (http://www.thesmilies.com)

[Toastmaker]

The only hot part of Canada that I can think of would be some of the women ... :ernae:

Actually, having lived only a stones throw from Canada, I have to admit it really is a beautiful country ... not just because of the reason I stated above. Canada is very majesstic ...

Just wish I would have heard back on my effort I made about a week ago ... hopefully I'm still in the running. :)




Glad to see you figured out my double-speak there, Snuffy ! I posted that while furtively peeking at C9G's avatar. . .

By the way, what the hell is that in red. . . ?

[Snuffy]

Majestic ... yer not the only one allowed to gawk at C9G's avatar are ya? :bump:

My darned errant fingers ...

[Bjoern]

Yay, Top 25...

[Kofschip]

I have been all over the world and the best country to live in is the United States of America, period..........

[Navy Chief]

Am seriously considering moving to Ecuador. Prowler keeps telling me how cheap it is to live there........

NC

[Piglet]

Norway was ranked #1

Not after we all move there!

[jmig]

Not after we all move there!

:icon_lol: :icon_lol: :icon_lol:

[cheezyflier]

the thing that has made me appreciate the states the most is living here in canadia.

[djscoo]

having lived only a stones throw from Canada

They tell you not to throw rocks at them Canadians...it makes 'em angry...:mixedsmi:

[Naismith]

It is my opinion that the survey is biased and probably compiled by an Australian Viking whose mother lives in Wreckyavick. The best country is of course Canada (the west bit at any rate everything else is just frigid) lol

[HenryW]

I have been all over the world and the best country to live in is the United States of America, period..........

Sorry, it IS Norway, period! :bump:

[AussieMan]

Norway was ranked #1, followed by Australia, Iceland and Canada. :applause:

Read on...

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20091005/ts_afp/undevelopmentpoverty_20091005115324

Before you Yanks and Canuks get too carried away just look which country finished ahead of you both :applause::applause:.

Cheers
Pat

[demorier]

Iceland ????? To bloody cold up that way.

[Naki]

How was this gauged?..NZ ranks really high usually then suddenly we plummet..what did we do wrong?? and I thought Iceland was bankrupt? :kilroy:

[Wing_Z]

It's OK Paul, Helen's in charge...;)

[Rex]

The USA is never selected as the best country to live in, in recent years. This is according to many publications including Forbes, the Examiner, the Economist, and the Human Development Index among a plethora of other examples.
The USA is an empire in decline. And all the trillions spent on propping up corrupt corporations and a lifeblood sapping military industrial complex will not, and cannot, change this fact.<br>

[demorier]

You guys didn't win the tri-nations this year Naki. For a NZ'er that's automatic disqualification.

[mariereid]

I have been lucky enough to see a lot of the world. There are only 2 places I would want to live in. Where I am now, and maybe a small town on the British Columbia coast. The northwestern US in nice and Maine is too. Those of us who live in Canada and the US are very fortunate people.

[txnetcop]

The USA is never selected as the best country to live in, in recent years. This is according to many publications including Forbes, the Examiner, the Economist, and the Human Development Index among a plethora of other examples.
The USA is an empire in decline. And all the trillions spent on propping up corrupt corporations and a lifeblood sapping military industrial complex will not, and cannot, change this fact.


People who live in glass houses should not throw rocks...especially across the US/Canadian border...

Canada's Systemically Corrupt Politics
http://www.pacificfreepress.com/news/1/2333-canadas-systemically-corrupt-politics.html

Canada's political parties voted as corrupt: poll

http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20051208/elxn_corruption_survey_051211/20051212

Canada Revenue Agency employees arrested in corruption probe

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2009/04/08/raid-arrests.html

Oh there's a whole lot more to be said but this will do for now...

By the way, I love Canada. I have spent many summers there, but to arbitrarily throw rocks at your neighbor without removing the boulders in your own back yard is just...oh well you know! Unfortunately corruption will be with all of us until there is no us!
Ted

[Snuffy]

The USA is never selected as the best country to live in, in recent years. This is according to many publications including Forbes, the Examiner, the Economist, and the Human Development Index among a plethora of other examples.
The USA is an empire in decline. And all the trillions spent on propping up corrupt corporations and a lifeblood sapping military industrial complex will not, and cannot, change this fact.


I'm thinking you're probably wrong in this asssessment.

Otherwise the immigration here, both legal and illegal wouldn't be what it is today unless the people thought so ... People still hold the living in the U.S. as almost utopian compaired to many other countries.

The report referenced in the OP of this thread is "colored" in regards to the fact it was a U.N. sponsored study. Despite the fact that the U.N. could not exist without the infusion of U.S. aide, the other members of that group are predominately anti-American, and therefore their views are bigotted.

:sleep: :kilroy:

That said, I hope this thread doesn't get any more political.

[Prowler1111]

Well, if you go thru the LIST (http://hdr.undp.org/en/statistics/) you´ll see that is better to live in Cuba than in Mexico, or Saudi Arabia,Brazil...so are where is the nearest Cuba embassy???

Prowler

[Matt Wynn]

makes me think where did the Shi... erm. I mean useless country that is the UK finish? 21st! *falls about laughing* i might be Brit by location but not by birth :icon_lol: (Thankfully) :ernae: yeah lets all move to Norway and throw it into complete dis-array, Scandinavia is a really high tech place if I recall...

edit just seen my Birthplace finished 25th, no biggie still would move back home :d

[lefty]

Whoever voted Norway as #1 obviously is not a beer drinker.

It is about $12 a pint there..........:icon29:

Otherwise, I am not getting into any debates about the best country to live in.


Everyone knows it is.................????

[Bjoern]

and I thought Iceland was bankrupt? :kilroy:

The data is older than it appears and the whole ranking is based on the HDI:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_Development_Index

Basically, this thing is a wholly objective ranking.

[jmig]

There are a lot of places where I could be happy living. Especially if they speak English. My French, Spanish and all the above go from a high of Sucks!, to a low of non-existent.

However, I moved to Lafayette twenty-three years ago and fell in love with the place. Sometimes, I wish it wasn't so dang hot and humid or, we had more streets to handle to traffic flow. Other than that is a wonderful place to live.

Keep your surveys, I am happy here and I don't plan on moving. :)

[Henry]

There are a lot of places where I could be happy living. Especially if they speak English. My French, Spanish and all the above go from a high of Sucks!, to a low of non-existent.

However, I moved to Lafayette twenty-three years ago and fell in love with the place. Sometimes, I wish it wasn't so dang hot and humid or, we had more streets to handle to traffic flow. Other than that is a wonderful place to live.

Keep your surveys, I am happy here and I don't plan on moving. :)
yup surveys are never correct
and how can you put the US in one category
a great place to live?
it changes with every state and often in the same state
I live on the crossroads between Louisiana, Texas, Mississippi and Arkansas
go in any direction and there is a world of difference
Lafayette is totally different than Shreveport
with the exception of the climate.
that's the geography then we have the economy
i would not live anywhere that i had to pay 12 Quid a pint
unless i got 50 Quid per hour
so whats it about the scenery, the people ive found in most places i have lived you find good and bad people
so it does seem a little silly
Norway beautiful country but for me
too much daylight in the summer too dark in the winter
What suits the individual i guess
H

[Naki]

The data is older than it appears and the whole ranking is based on the HDI:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_Development_Index (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_Development_Index)

Basically, this thing is a wholly objective ranking.


Wow thats one complicated sum. Looking at the results there isnt a lot of difference between no 1 and no 20 but when it comes down to it numbers dont really add up how happy you are living in one country to another.



You guys didn't win the tri-nations this year Naki. For a NZ'er that's automatic disqualification.

Dosen't the Rugby League World Cup make up for it? :kilroy:

[HenryW]

Norway beautiful country but for me
too much daylight in the summer too dark in the winter
What suits the individual i guess
H

Well, today i lost my sister, she died of cancer and then Norway is a horrible place to be. But i remember her smiles, the joyfull times we had together and can't stand the thought that she would have died another place than in my belowed Norway. Its a paradox, isn't it? Oh!! folks, im writing this in sorrow, in cognac fumes just to drink away the grief of a loss.

Anyway, a comfort is nothing but the images of Norway where her spirit lives:

http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u36/Wyrneh/Norge/p3.jpg

http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u36/Wyrneh/Norge/p2.jpg

http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u36/Wyrneh/Norge/p4.jpg

http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u36/Wyrneh/Norge/p24-1.jpg

http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u36/Wyrneh/Norge/p7.jpg

http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u36/Wyrneh/Norge/p10.jpg

http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u36/Wyrneh/Norge/p16.jpg

[Snuffy]

No doubt HenryW that it is indeed beautiful I love the sight of all that unblemished snow ... thank you for the pictures!

I am also sorry to hear of the passing of your sister. Recieve comfort that she is now probably much better off than having to combat the ravages of that dreded cancer.

R.I.P. Sis. :engel016:

[Henry]

I am sorry to hear of your Loss Henry
i have a few friends from Norway
it is indeed a beautiful place
and a great place to look up and beyond
H

[CG_1976]

Well being a Dual born National of both Canada and the US, All im going to say is North America is No.1. We have our issues but it could be worse like other areas of the world. If I had to call another area Home it would be the Aussie/Kiwi Home.

[HenryW]

A comfort:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iqF9iqBZKv0

:USA-flag:

[gigabyte]

Henry my thoughts are with you, I just lost one cousin to cancer and another is terminal so I have some sence of the loss you are feeling. The pictures are truly beautiful and a wonderful remberance to a loved ones spirit, now free fresh and clean.

On the subject of the best place to live, my thought is the best place is where ever you call HOME, weather it is where you were born or where you find yourself living. Let the mainstream media and the political types throw out their surveys and statistics, there is no right or wrong, best or worst, there is just HOME, it's where the Heart is, right!

[HenryW]

Henry my thoughts are with you, I just lost one cousin to cancer and another is terminal so I have some sence of the loss you are feeling. The pictures are truly beautiful and a wonderful remberance to a loved ones spirit, now free fresh and clean.

On the subject of the best place to live, my thought is the best place is where ever you call HOME, weather it is where you were born or where you find yourself living. Let the mainstream media and the political types throw out their surveys and statistics, there is no right or wrong, best or worst, there is just HOME, it's where the Heart is, right!

Thanks! Yeah, its the HOME that is the best place to be, if you are in the antartic, the Sahara, USA, Norway, Argentina, Bolivia...no matter...its the HOME where you feel all right thats matter instead that UN "research" that focus on the HDI.

:guinness::USA-flag:

[demorier]

Yes it does Naki....that hurt.:wavey:

[Rex]

Henry. I am sorry for your loss.

[Lionheart]

I am sorry for your loss HenryW. Thats horrible. I cant imagine losing my sister.

I agree with Gigabyte. Home is where 'home' is, where the heart is, where your thoughts rest in peace in your inner mind. That is home.


Now, the best place to live is where you 'make' it the best. You can be in the worst place around and think how awesome it is.


I have always thought of owning places in other countries, like a cottage in the Swiss Alps, a residence in England, a little two story in Tuscany, a box house on Cape Cod, an apartment in a Dorf in the mountains of Austria near Berchtestgarten (however thats spelled). All places have their 'special' points. Man, its like picking one car to be the best in the world... Might as well appreciate the one you have rather then going on about others...

But.. Its nice to dream and look around once in a while. Might find a home and town and country that better suits you..

EDIT: By the way, I found this odd RC car driving around in my back yard the other day, taking photos.... arrghh..

Have to admit.. Looks like Phoenix, though I wouldnt call it home, lol..




Bill

[Francois]

Home is where your heart is... has nothing to do with your place of birth, economics, or silly lists.... :wavey:

[rhumbaflappy]

Here's the list if indicators used to define just what is the "best" country:

http://hdrstats.undp.org/en/indicators/

The list does have it's own political and social agenda. I don't see any indicators of climate, energy usage, prevalence of crippling diseases...

Dick

[huub vink]

Henry I'm sorry to hear about your loss. I wish you strenght.

About the list, we all know the list is not correct. The Netherlands is only on the 6th place! And we all know (my) home is the best place on earth ;)

Cheers,
Huub

[OBIO]

Following my dear old Granddad's skul of filosofee, home is where you hand your hat. I have nearly 40 caps, 4 vintage Flip Fronts (think Frank Sinatra and Jimmy Stewart), 2 vintage Fedoras, a very nice vintage virgin wool Rancher's hat and a US Army dress uniform hat (circa 1960s)...oh, and a USAF fighter pilot's helmet from the 60s (also have the guys flight suit, high altitude flight suit, and knee board)....and all these hats are hanging right here in the 900 square feet, 2 bedroom home that I share with my wife, Debra, our two dogs, kitten, 2 ferrets, bird and two fish tanks. So, this is home...and there is no place better than right here in my mind and heart...and I could care less about what the United Nations has to say on the matter.

OBIO

[boxcar]

.
My sincere condolences for your recent loss, HenryW.

And well said, Francois, OBIO & others. Truly, when we are at peace with ourselves then any place is home.
.

[viking3]

Condolences to you HenryW.


Let's just be glad we live in the countries at the top of the list and hope for a better future for those at the bottom.

Regards, Rob